Ever since I was little, I’ve loved the look of stone walls in houses. If it’s the entire exterior of the home, or just a stone wall over the fire, I think it makes the home look more magical, like a castle. (I also love homes with turrets, large libraries, and large wildflower gardens). For anyone not in la-la land like me, stone walls can lend your space a sense of masculinity, security, and classic luxury that never goes out of style. For tips on decoration your space with your own brick or stone accent wall, check out this list of tutorials by Kathy Woodard at Decorating Your Small Space:

When I went to college, I did a purge of my whole room. I threw away all my boy band (Green Day) posters from high school, got rid of clothes that no longer fit, and tossed (most) of my stuffed animals. (The really beloved few went into storage). When I left college and moved out on my own, I did another purge. This time, I got rid of everything that wasn’t useful, sentimental, or beautiful to me. If you are in your 30s, it’s probably time that you do a household purge as well. There are probably tons of things leftover from your college / 20-something days that no longer fit in an adult space. Plus, less stuff = easier to clean. Check out this post by Liz Lynch at My Domaine for items you should toss/donate today: